There are many smart audio speakers on the market and more are expected to be released in the near future. Coming in many sizes, these speakers can help you shop, listen to your favorite artists, and even turn on your lights, all controlled by simple voice commands.
Every home is different, of course. But despite the myriad of options out there, the Amazon Echo Dot's tiny black or white dot may be the only smart speaker you could ever need. Don't you believe us? This is why.
Echo Dot (2nd Gen) - Smart Speaker with Alexa - Black Echo Dot (2nd Gen) - Smart Speaker with Alexa - Black Buy Now on Amazon $24.99
The world is full of beautiful home audio speakers. For the most part, though, speakers are made to hide away in a kitchen nook, behind a TV, or in the corner of your bedroom. With this in mind, the 32mm x 84mm x 84mm Amazon Echo can fit nicely anywhere in a home, as long as there's a power cord nearby.
Best of all, because it's remotely controlled via the Alexa app for iOS and Android, the speaker doesn't need any physical contact after setup How to Set Up and Use Your Amazon Echo Dot How to Set Up and Use Your Dot Amazon Echo I just got an Echo Dot and need help setting it up? We'll show you how to set up your Punto and explain everything you need to use it, as well as troubleshoot common problems. Read more.
In other words, plug it in and forget it. Another plus:At just 0.36 pounds, the Amazon Echo Dot is also easy to move around your home.
And then there is the price.. The Echo Dot is incredibly affordable compared to most models, and Amazon has been known to discount products in its Echo lineup often. For the echo spot, these savings typically range from $10 to $20. Amazon typically extends these discounts to its retail partners, including Best Buy and Target.
When? In my experience, discounts on Amazon Echo devices usually come before major holidays in the US. As an added incentive, Amazon also often offers discounts when you buy three Echo Dot units at once.
At any of these price points, the Punto Echo is an impulse buy for most people. Along with its small size, the device can serve as a quick addition to any room in your home.
The Amazon Echo Dot offers a good listening experience, but not a great one. But honestly, at its price point, I'm not sure this matters. The internal speaker is suitable for listening to your favorite songs or the latest episode of your favorite podcast.
If you're looking for better sound, the device can connect directly to other speakers via a 3.5mm stereo cable, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connection. The device is also compatible with Bluetooth wireless headphones. For even more flexibility, you can even make the Echo Dot wireless by adding it to a Vaux speaker. Upgrade Your Favorite Smart Gadgets With These Great Accessories Upgrade Your Favorite Smart Gadgets With These Great Accessories Don't despair There are several smart accessories on the market that can enhance the functionality and appearance of your smart home devices! Read more or similar device.
Plus, with multi-room music support, you can play music across multiple Echo devices with ease. Supported music services at the time of this writing include Amazon Music Unlimited, Prime Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and some third-party providers like TuneIn and iHeartRadio.
It wasn't that long ago that Amazon only offered two Alexa-based smart speakers, the original Echo and the Echo Dot. However, the e-commerce giant now sells six smart speakers (not including the growing number of third-party products with built-in Alexa capabilities).
Despite the growing line of Echo devices, there is one significant point worth considering. If you just want a voice-activated Echo device to play music, answer questions, and help you order from Amazon.com, the Echo Dot is the most practical option. The others are only beneficial if you're looking for features that expand beyond the basics. Not surprisingly, these additional features increase the price of the device..
Amazon's Echo Spot and Echo Show New Echo Speaker comes with a touch screen Amazon's New Echo Speaker comes with a touch screen Amazon has introduced the Echo Show, an Alexa-enabled speaker with a built-in touch screen. As useful as it is, it feels like it belongs in the 1980s. Read More Both the current generation Echo and Echo Plus provide a better sound experience than the Echo Dot, while the latter adds a smart hub to the mix.
There's nothing inherently wrong with buying any of these devices, of course. In fact, the original Echo still plays a prominent role in my home. However, there's little reason to buy one of these for every room in your house, as it's overkill and a more expensive solution.
The Amazon Echo Dot isn't the only small smart speaker on the market. In late 2017, Google introduced the 98mm by 42mm Home Mini for the first time.
In a similar price range, the Google Home Mini is as compact as the Echo Dot and serves as an essential member of Google Home's growing line of smart speakers. That said, there's little reason to make a switch if you're already immersed in the Amazon Echo ecosystem. A Comparison Guide to Amazon Echo Devices:Which is Best for You? A Comparison Guide to Amazon Echo Devices:Which is Best for You? Which Amazon Echo Device is Right for You? We compare the Plus, Dot, Tap, Show, Spot, Look and Fire TV Cube to help you decide. Read more.
If you're new to smart speakers, there's a fundamental reason why you should select the Echo Dot over the Google Home Mini:Amazon Skills 18 Awesome New Amazon Alexa Skills You Need to Try 18 Awesome New Amazon Alexa Skills You Need to Try The Amazon List Echo's abilities is growing all the time. Let's take a look at the most useful and silliest abilities of the last few months. Read more.
Amazon Echo devices are now ready to use. However, you can quickly add additional skills and functionality with Amazon Skills. You can find new abilities. New Amazon Alexa Feature Will Suggest Third-Party Skills New Amazon Alexa Feature Will Suggest Third-Party Skills Voice assistants are becoming more important, but Alexa still has skills gaps. Fortunately, Amazon is introducing new functionality that will speed up its ability to fill those gaps. That is how. Read more by visiting the Alexa Skills page on Amazon.com, or by opening the Alexa app on your phone and selecting Skills from the menu. Simply select an ability and click Enable to add it to your Echo. It's that simple.
Since its launch in 2016, Google Home is also getting smarter thanks to its growing list of apps and partners. However, at least for now, the Amazon Alexa universe is much larger, which is an important point to keep in mind.
Smart speakers are becoming one of the most important technological products of this decade. Led by Amazon, these smart speakers have plenty of uses beyond letting you stream music. You can also use them to answer important (and trivial) questions, shop, and more.
Due to its price and size, the Amazon Echo Dot is an ideal choice whether you're entering the world of smart speakers for the first time, or expanding your smart speaker footprint beyond a single device.
How do you use the Amazon Echo Dot in your home? Let us know below.
